Registering mechanism.



P. K. FASSETT.

REGISTEBING MEOHANISM.

APPLIOATIDH FILED s112123, 1907.

1,1 32,71 1 Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

15 BHBETB*BHEBT 1.

FiJ.

P. K. PASSETT.

BEGISTBBING MBCHANISM.

APPLIUATION FILED SEPT. 23. 1907.

Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

15 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

HMWMJS Fiozo @mib/woon F. K. PASSETT.

BEGISTERING MEGHANISM.

APPLIGATION r1LED,sEPT.zs. 1907.

F. K. PASSETT.

REGISTBRING MEGHANISM.

APPLIGATION FILED SEPT. z3. 1907.

1,1 32,71 1 Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

15 SHEETS-SHEET 4,

immensen l Qwc Moz P. K. PASSET'IV. REGISTERING MBGHANISM.

APPLIUATION rILnD SEPT. 2a, 1907.

1 1 32,7 1 1 Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

15 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

M I SH01/neu F. K. PASSETT.

REGISTERING MBGHANISM.

APPLmATIoN IILBD B11111223, 1907.

Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

15 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

GIMMv/awo F. K. FASSETT.

BEGISTEBING MECHANISM.

APPLIOATION rxLnD SEPT. 2a. 1907.

Patented 19131223, 1915.

15 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

F. K. PAsusETT. RBGISTERING MBGHANISM.

PPLIUATION FILED SEPT 23 1907 1,1 32,71 1

' n Patented MaI-.23, 1915.

15 HBETS SHEET 8.

P. K. FASSETT. REGISTERING MBGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 23. 190'?. 1,132,71 1 Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

15 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

Witness@ P. K. PASSETT. RBGISTBEING MEGHANISM.

APPLIGATION FILED SEPT. 23. 1907. 1,1 32,71 1 Patented Mar. 23, 1915. 15 BHIJETS- FEET 10. H1 n3 llri l 3 nii Fid.8. 17 19 FIM). 57 l m l.; LL- T n4 f T 103| 5o) I 102 I f 08 LV 152 i 107 59 |04 ET Hi F. K. FASSBTT.

BEGISTBRING MBGBANISM.

APPLIUATION FILED s221223. 1907.

Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

15 SHEETS-SHEET 11.

Fil.

Fid.l4.

F. K. FASSETT.

REGISTBRING MEGHANISM.

APPLIOATIDH FILED SEPT. 2a. 1901.

1,1 32,71 1 Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

15 SHEETS- SHEET 12.

@629% m i: w .v5-16W F. K. PASSETT.

RBGlSTERING MEGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 23. 1907, 1,1 32,7 1 1. Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

15 SHEETS-SHEET 13.

I'. K. PASSETT.

BEGISTERING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2s. 1907.

Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

15 SHEETS-SHEET 15.

UNITED STATES rTn'NTA onirica.

FRANCIS K. FASSETT. OF DAYTON, OLHIO, ASSIGNOB TO THENATIONAL CASH REGISTER COMPANY, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO, (INCORPORATED IN 1906.)

' :EGISTEBING MECHANISM.

Speclcetlon of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

Application #led September 23, 1907. Serial No. 894,186.

To all whom z't may concern.' i

Be it known that I, FRANCIS K.-.fFAssi:'rr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Registering Mechanism, of which I declare the followin to be a full, clear, and exact description.

his invention relates to calculating machines and its prime object is to provide a machine of this class which will permit very fast operation without causing a wrong registration or printing, or impairing the mechanism, and to provide a mechanism which is positive in its action, wherein springs are almost wholly eliminated, and in which all operations are performed during the forward movement of the operating handle.

Another object is to provide a calculating machine wherein each operation is completed by a single movement forward and backward of the operating handle.

Another object is to provide in calculating machines a reversible counter so that amounts may be directly subtracted by the controlling keys simply by changing the po- 1 sition of the counter reversing lever.

Another object is to provide a lever by the manipulation of which the machine adds, subtracts or prints a total, and a second lever which causes the machine to print a grand total and clear itself, but in which neither of these levers effects any irrevocable change of the state of the machine. They may be movedat will and if restored to their former positions before the operating handle has been moved, no different function will be performed by the machine than if the levers had not been moved.

Another object is to provide an improved form of key operated controlling device or stop bar wherein said bar is differentially movable by sliding engagements with the keys.

Another object is to provide a differential stop bar and a key detent plate which may be instantly readjusted after being setrby one key by the mere depression of another key of the same bank for the purpose of corliecting a mistake in depressing the wrong lincther object is to provide improved printing mechanism that may be readily adjusted so as to throw the type bars against the platen with dilferent degrees of force and to provide means for preventing the printing members from rebounding or vibrating against the type bars.

With these and incidental ojects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts the essential elements of which are set forth 1n appended claims and a preferred form of embodiment of which is hereinafter disclosed with reference to the drawin s which accompany and form part of this specification.

Of said drawings: Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section of a calculating machine constructed according to this invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail of the counter actuating mechanism. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. Ltis a front elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a top plan partly in section and partly broken away of the counter actuating mechanism. Fig. 6 is an enlarged view and more in detail of Some of the operating mechanism shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 6, with a number of the parts left out for the sake of clearness. Fig. 6*' is a `view of the remaining parts shown in Fig. 6, but left out of Fig. G". Fig. 7 is a detail of the key releasing device. Fig. 8 is an enlarged front elevation of the counter. Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 10 is a side elevation of one of the counter wheels. Fig. 11 is a. section on the line 1111 of Fig. 8. Fig. 12 is a detail of the transfer device and is a section on the line 12-12 of Fig. 9. Figs. 13 and 14 are details of cams shown in Fig. 12. Fig. 15 is a detail of the operating mechanism of the counter transfer device. Fig. 16 is a detail of the resetting mechanism. Fig. 17 is a rear elevation of the same. Fig. 18 is a detail view of a portion of the printing mechanism with the parts shown in partially operated positions. Fig. 19 is a view similar to Fig. 18 with the parts shown farther advanced in their operation.

The machine of the present invention is intended to provide a positively operating adding and subtracting mechanism, thereby securing an accurate and .at the same time very rapid machine. The keys when depressed are arranged to differentially adjust stop mechanism which is in the path of two sets of complementarily stepped slides. When the machine is operated the slides are moved until the complementary steps thereof abut the differential stopsto cause a differential operation of the a ding mechanism through racks carried on one set of the stepped slides. Also connected to one of the sets of slides are type bars which have series of type from zero to nine thereon and which are differentially adjusted to bring any desired type opposite the printing point by the differential movement of the stepped slides. A printing hammer is provided for each of the t pe bars with means for throwing all of t e hammers with varying degrees of force against said bars so as to cause an impression therefrom to be taken on the record material. The type bars are normally outof zero printing position and are arranged to be elevated one step so as to bring the zero type to printing Qposition if any type bar o higher denomination has been adjusted. In case a type bar is not raised at all, the printing hammer for that denomination is locked in retracted position by the type bar so that no operation of the printing hammer is given.

Means for printing totals at any time without resetting the counter wheels are provided, the said means comprising stepped cams movable with the counter w eels, and with which stepped cams levers controlling the differential stops previously referred to are associated, so that the differential stops may be adjusted into the path of the stepped slides in accordance with the amounts previously added on the counter, When an operation of the machine is then given the total will be printed on the record material. By changing the position of a resetting lever it is also possible when printing a total to reset the counter to zero and restore the machine to a condition ready to receive a new registration by the same movement of the operating handle which causes the ordinary printing of' totals.

The mechanism is designed to subtract as well as to add by merely shifting laterally the racks which cause the operation of the counter. When they are so shifted laterally the racks are adapted to engage inter-` mediate gears which reversely move the counter.

With this general description it will be seen that the mechanism to be described includes the key board mechanism, the mechanism having the differential motion, the counter mechanism including transfer devices therefor, the printing mechanism, means for printing totals, and means for resetting the counter to zero together with some details such as a full stroke device and a releasing mechanism for the keys.A

Key board and diferent'ally operated mechanism.-The machine is provided with a plurality of banks of keys numbered from one to nine inclusive, only one of which banks is shown in the drawings. The ke s when depressed are adapted to engage t e cam edges 19 of a stop bar 18 and move the latter rearwardly differentially. As best shown in Fig. 1 it will be seen that the cam edges 19 increase in length from front to rear so that the keys when depressed will impart a variable movement to the bar 18.

'The usual detent v21 is provided to retain any key in depressed osition. It will be seen from the shape ofp this detent plate 21 that the depression of any key will release a previously depressed key. Means hereafter described are provided for moving the key detent 21 at the end of each operation o1 the machine so as to release the depressed key.

If a key has been depressed by mistake, say for instance the nine key which is the rearward one and it is desired to depress a key of lower value, all that is necessary is to depress the proper key, which will release the nine key and readjust the stop bar 18 by contacting with one of the cam edges 20 formed on said bar. Between each cam edge 19 and its corresponding edge 20 a straight portion of the stop bar is provided against which the lower camming edge of the keys will abut so as to lock the bar in its adjusted position.

Near the end of the operation of the machine the stop bars 1S are returned to normal or zero position which is the position shown in Fig. 1, by springs 22, the ends of which are fastened to downward extensions of the stop bars 18 and a cross rod 23. This rod 23 is supported in the up er ends of levers 2l, the lower ends of the atter being pivoted to the side frames of the machine as at 25. A shaft 29 to which an operating handle 28 is secured to one end, is provided with a cam 60 near each end. These cams 60 contact with pins 24 projecting from the levers 24 at the beginning of the movement of vthe rock shaft 29 bythe operating handle 28 and thereby put the springs 22 under tension. These springs 22 remain under tension until after the keys are released and the hereinafter described slides 32 and 33 returned to normal position. The stop bars 18 are guided and limited in their rearward and forward movements by pins 30 projecting from cross braces 30c of the machine frame. Normally the springs 22 are not under tension so that the differential stop bars 18 may be moved rearwardly with very y,slight ellort.

The dilerential stops 18 are carried by rollers 30 projecting from the cross brace 30C and guided by the pins 30 passing through slots as shown in Fig. 1 and are provided at their rear ends (see Fig. 2) with flanges 31 in the paths of stepped slides 32 and 33. The stepped slides 32 and 33 are provided at their lower ends with racks 34 iio and' 35 respectively, which latter are kian con-` It is clear that at each forward movement ofy the handle 28 the shaft 27 will be lifted an invariable distance. This lifting will begin almost immediately after the handle 28 be ins to move and will reach its highest olnt when the handle has moved about one alf of its distance forward. The shaft will remain in its elevated position until the handle 28has completed its forward movement and about half of its return movement. During the remainder of the return movement of the handle the shaft 27 will return to its lowest position.

The serrations on slides 32 and 33 are stepped so that the slides may engage the differential stop bars 18 at different ositions along their length and stop the s ides at different positions along the path of their movement. The differential stop bars are for this purpose movable transversely to the movement of the slides into alinement with any of the serrations on the slides.

It will be seen from this description that the operation comprises a depression of the proper keys and a movement forward and return of the operating handle. When the keys are depressed, the differential stop bars 18 are moved forwardly, and the flange 31 of each stop bar is thereby brought to the proper obstructin position. As the handle is drawn forwar the shaft 27 is elevated a constant distance, or, in other words, is given invariable excursions at all operations, the elevation of the shaft occurring during the first half of the forward movement of the handle. The counter racks 41 and operating slides 33 thereof are retarded at the beginning of their upward movement, by spring pressed pawls 47, loose on the rod 48. The result of this pawl construction is that the slide 33 is retained in its normal position when shaft 27 is elevated, so that the pinions 58 rotate around this shaft `as the shaft moves upwardly, thereby elevating the slide 32 twice as fast as the shaft moves. At some point in the elevation one of the serrations of slide 32 will engage the positioned fiange 31, thereby obstructing and stopping the slide 32, whereupon the said slide becomes the fulcrum for pinion 58, and this pinion throughout the remainder of the upward movement of the shaft 27 rotates in the opposite direction, thereby elevating the slide 33 and counter rack 41. As the shaft 27 reaches its highest position, the slide 33 will engage one of its serrations with; the said ange `311so that the whole mechanism is then locked, and the operation of the counter has taken place. During the second half of the forward movement of the handle, the counter operating mechanism remains in elevated position, and this is also true during the first half of the rearward movement of the handle. During the latter half of the rearward movement the shaft 27 is moved downward to its normal position carrying both slides and the counter rack 41 with it to their respective normal positions.

It will be seen that the movement of the stepped slides 32 and 33, when the shaft 27 is raised, is complementary, the sum of the motions in all cases being ten spaces, and it will be further seen that in all cases the slides 32 and 33 finally abut flanges 31 of the differential stops 18 so as to positively lock the slides and entirely prevent the possibility of overthrow of the counter wheels.

Thus far in the description, it may have been assumed that counter racks 41 are rigidly connected to the slides 33, and this might be the case if no printing mechanism was employed. The construction disclosed, however, provides a lost motion connection between the slides 33 and the corresponding counter racks 41 permitting the slides 33 to be elevated one step before the counter racks 41 start to move, this being for the purpose of printing zeros. This construction will be described in detail in connection with the printing mechanism.

The object of retarding the movement of the slides 33 by the pawls 47 is to enable the racks 41 connected to said slides 33 to engage their counter wheels and to withdraw certain locking devices for the said counter before the slides 33 and the racks 41 move upwardly as hereinafter fully described.

Counter and transfer mechanism-Coming now to the counter itself and the transfer mechanism the detailed description may be premised by saying that the counter cornprises a series of wheels bearing numbers on their peripheries which successively pass in the rear of an opening in the casing through which the numbers may be observed. The counter wheels each carry an actuating gear which is adapted to be meshed with the operating racks 41. It will be evident that if the motion of the counter wheels is derived from the racks through intermediate gears the direction of such motion will be opposite to that given when the motion is derived directly from the racks. Such a construction is disclosed herein and clearly provides aY simple subtracting mechanism inasmuch as in order to subtract, all that is necessary is to change the connection so that the racks 41 will be meshed with the intermediate gears and not with the counter gears themselves.

The counters (Figs. 8, 9 and 10) are turned during the upward movement of the racks 41 which directly mesh with the counter inions 50 on shaft 51"L during addition and with the intermediate gears 51 while subtracting. In order to subtract the racks 41 are shifted laterally from mesh with the pinions 50 into mesh with the gears 51 so as to reversely turn the counters during the same upward movement. It will be seen from Fig. 8 that gears 50 and 51 are staggered to allow them to be separately meshed with racks 41. The shiftin f of the racks is accomplished by means of t e lever 52 which controls a cam 53 (see Fig. 6) connected to said lever. The cam 53 engages a pin 54 projecting from a shaft 55, and effects a longitudinal shifting of the shaft. Pinned to the shaft 55, as shown in Fig. 5, are guides 56 for the racks 41. The longitudinal movement of the shaft 55 will of course cause said guides 56 to shift the racks 41.

Before proceeding with a detailed description of the counter, some of the operating connections will be. described as these parts and the timing of their movement are important to the counter and transfer mechanism.

The counter wheels are normally locked i against rotation by the drums 57 on the |shaft 49 engaging star wheels 59 which are secured to and revoluble with the counter pinions. The followin described mechanism is used for imparting a slight vertical movement to the shaft 49, enough so that the drums 57 will be lifted free from the star wheels to permit actuation of the counter wheels. This mechanism also simultaneously moves the counter racks 41 into and out of mesh at the proper time. Loosely mounted upon the shaft 29 adjacent to one of the cams (see Fig. 1) are a disk 6l and a ratchet 62, the two being united. The ratchet 62 has five notches cut in its periphery with which the pawl 65 (Fig. 6) driven by the operating handle engages. The ratchet 62 and disk 61 will move one fifth of a revolution forward each time the handle 28 which actuates the pawl 65 is moved forward and backward. Backward motion of the ratchet 62 is prevented by the retaining pawl 66. A lever 67 mounted on a shaft 68 has projecting arms 69 and 70 which embrace and co-act with cam surfaces formed on the periphery of the disk 61. It is evident that the lever 67 will oscillate as the disk 61 revolves. The relation of these parts is such that the lever 67 will be rocked forwardly immediately after the operating lever 28 starts to move forward and before the shaft 27 has begun to lift. The lever 67 will remain in the forward position until after the shaft 27 has reached its highest point, when said lever will be immediately rocked to its backward position where it will remain until the next operation of the machine as the disk 62 remains idle during return of the handle. One end of a rod 7l 1s carried by the upper extremity of the lever 67, the other end of rod 71 being carried by an arm which is also mounted on the shaft 68, but is not shown in the drawings. '.Ihe rod 71 passes through elongated openings in the upper ends of the racks 41 and it is clear that the latter will be thrown into mesh with the counter operating gears 50 or 51 as soon as the handle 28 starts and before the shaft 27 begins to lift. The lever 67 also serves to lift the counter transfer and locking devices out of engagement with the counters and hold them in such position while the racks 41 are in engagement with the counter pinions. For this purpose a link 72 is pivoted to the lever G7 and to an arm 73, the latter being a slot and pin connection. The arm 73 carries one end of the transfer shaft 49 and is itself mounted on shaft 74. The other end of the shaft 49 is carried by an arm similar to 73 and is also mounted on the shaft 74.

Transfer mechansm-T he transfer mechanism is adapted to operate in either direction of rotation of the counter wheels, the direction of operation depending on the same means which causes a shifting of the connection between the racks 41 and the counter wheels. The shaft 49 carries beside the locking disks or drums 57 a series of transfer operating devices and this shaft is adapted to be rotated in one direction or the other at each operation of the machine, the direction of rotation depending on whether the machine is to add or subtract. As usual, devices under the control of wheels of lower order are provided adapted to engage the transfer devices with the wheels of higher order. Transfers from wheels of lower order to wheels of higher order are effected by the wheels of lower order camming transfer device 90 into position to engage the counter pinions at the time a transfer is to be turned in, and rotating said transfer devices. The transfer devices 90 are each provided (see Fig. 11) with a pair of teeth 115 and 116 which are adapted to be meshed with the counter pinions. The means for rotating the shaft 49, upon which are mounted the transfer devices, in either direction according to whether amounts are being added or subtracted, comprises a pair of racks 82 and 83 (Fig. 15) which are each adapted to be separately geared to the shaft 49 so as to positively rotate said shaft. By means of the lever 52 the racks 82 and 83 may be oppositely moved so that either one or the other of said racks will mesh with their respective gears. The longitudinal movement of the racks 82 and 83 is effected hv means of the following described mechanism: A star shaped disk 75 with ratchet 76 attached is loosely mounted upon the shaft 29 and is actuated by the lever 28 through the pawl 77 which is mounted on stud 63 on said lever which also carries awl 05. The points of the disk co-actlng with pins 7S and 79 cause an oscillating motion of the lever 80 which swings on the center 81. This lever will be in its elevated position when the lever 28 is in its rearward position and will descend as the lever 28 moves forward, and having reached its lowest position will ascend during the latter half of the forward movement of the operating handle, at which time the lever 67 is in its rear position and the racks 41 are disengaged from the counter when the lever 67 is rocked into its rear position. The lever 2S returns to its rear position` leaving the lever 80 elevated. It will be seen that the transfer shaft is rotated first in one direction and then in the other direction at each operation of the machine, the first rotation being idle inasmuch as the transfer shaft 49 is at this time elevated. The direction of rotation depends on the position of the function lever 52, so that if the lever is in adding position, the first movement of the transfer shaft will be in one direction, while if the function lever is in the subtracted position, the first movement of the transfer shaft will he in the opposite direction. The racks 82 and 83 are guided at their lower ends on studs 84, and a recess forlned in their sides embraces a pin 85 extending from the side of the lever 80, so that said racks 82 and 83 will move up and down with the lever 80. Pins carried by a pair of levers 80 and 87 guide the upper ends of the racks. The position of the levers 86 and S7 is determined by the pin 92 on lever 93 pivoted at 9-1, pin 95, and the cam slot on the lever The lever 52 is loosely carried by the shaft 29 and has three positions. When in its central position, which is the position shown in the drawings, if the register is operated addition will take place. If it is in the position farthest from the operator subtraction will take place and when it is toward the operator a total will be printed. Then the lever 52 is in its central position the rack 82 will mesh with the gear 96 which is loosely mounted on the shaft 97. The gear 98 secured to the gear 96 meshes with a gear 99 which is mounted on transfer shaft 49. The gear 100 which is engaged by the rack S3 meshes with the gear 96 but with only a portion of the tooth faces, the gear 100 being longitudinally displaced. The teeth on gears 98 and 99 are made rather long to prevent them from becoming disengaged when the shaft 49 is lifted.

T he construction of the transfer operatingr mechanism whereby the shaft 49 is given a movement in one sense or the other, will now be clear, and a specific description of the transfer may now be given.

The counter transfer mechanism is illus-` trated in Figs. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14. Loosely mounted upon the counter wheel shaft@` 101 and within each counter; wheel is an arm 102 carrying a conical trip` cam 103 which protrudes through an opening 105 in the flange 104 of the counter wheel. This arm is capable of movement independently of the counter wheelto the extent permitted by said opening 105. The transfer shaft 49 is in its upper position at the time when the counter wheels are being moved by the racks 41, which permits the extremity of scalloped wheels 59 to pass the drum 57. A lug 108 forming partof a plate 107 normally projects into the hollow of and back of the flange 104 of each ofthe counter Wheels.

As a counter Wheel passes from nine to zero in addition or from zero to nine in subtraction, its cam 103 having first receded to the limit of the opening 105, moves the lu 108 from the interior of the counter whee to the exterior of the counter wheel and in doing so moves the member into the same vertical plane as the counter pinion 50. The

plate 107 is loosely mounted upon the drum 57 between the cams 110 and 111 which are rigidly secured to the drum 57. Lugs 113 and 114 co-act with the cams 110 and 111 respectively to raise or lower the plate 107 with respect to the'shaft 49. The transfer plate 90 is rigidly secured to the drum 57, the latter being splined to the shaft 49 and free to slide longitudinally on said sha ft 49. In Fig. 11 the member 90 is shown in position ready to effect the transfer. The two teeth 115 and 116 formed on its periphery will transfer the former in addition and the latter in subtraction depending upon the direction of rotation of the shaft 49.

Assuming that an addition is being made upon the units wheel of the counter which will carry an amount to the tens wheel. the units wheel driven by its rack 41 revolves the number of spaces determined by the amount key pressed. As the numbers seen in the sight opening pass from nine to zero the transfer device is shifted. the lug 108 passing from the interior to the exterior of the counter wheel. All this time the shaft 49 with the transfer devices carried thereon is in an elevated position and is revolving in the same direction as that in which the counter wheel is revolving. Then the regis tration begins the plate 107 is in its lowest position with reference to the shaft 49. but during the time the shaft 49 is revolving in its elevated position, the plate 107 actuated by the cams 110 and 111 will be lifted. Simultaneously with the withdrawal of the rack 41 the shaft 49 descends bringing the drum 57 into the sphere of movement of the points on the disk 59 thereby locking the counter wheel against displacement. lVhen the shaft 49 has reached its lowest position, 

